Griffin powers Oklahoma to easy win

Nov 18, 2008 - 6:03 AM
NORMAN, Oklahoma (Ticker) -- Oklahoma overpowered its second
straight opponent on Monday. Up next is a team that may put up
a little more resistance.

Blake Griffin had his second straight monster double-double with
20 points and 19 rebounds as No. 14 Oklahoma crushed Mississippi
Valley State, 94-53, in the NIT Season Tip-Off on Monday.

Freshmen Willie Warren and Ray Willis each scored 14 points for
the Sooners (2-0), who will play 21st-ranked Davidson (2-0) in
the second round of the tournament on Tuesday. The Wildcats
advanced with a 99-64 victory over James Madison.

"Davidson is a great team, as you guys saw," Griffin said. "We
are going to have to be physical and execute well and really do
a better job in the first half than we did today. We have to
give Stephen Curry attention and try to help out our guards and
stay after it defensively.

"This is what we want - teams that will come in here and be
competitive, and really just play against guys like they have."

"I thought we did some good things, especially on the defensive
side of the ball," Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel said. "(We're)
pleased with this win and have a very, very quick turnaround
playing against a really, really good team tomorrow with a
special, special player."

A sophomore forward, Griffin had 24 points and 18 rebounds in
Oklahoma's season-opening victory over American on Friday and
nearly had a double-double by halftime. The preseason Big 12
Conference Player of the Year had nine points and nine rebounds
as Oklahoma held a 35-19 lead.

The Delta Devils scored the first basket of the second half but
the Sooners answered with an 18-0 burst to take a 53-21 lead and
erase any thoughts of a Mississippi Valley State comeback.

Shannon Behling scored 16 points to pace the Delta Devils (0-3),
who were coming off a 76-25 setback to Washington State on
Saturday.

"It has been a tough road trip and there is nothing bad that I
can say about our guys right now," MVSU coach Sean Woods said.
"We are battling as hard as we can. Anytime you go play Arizona
State, then the next night travel to Washington State, who I
think is the most underrated team in the league, then two days
later you come here to play a team that has a lot to prove on
national television ... that is tough."